1 Final Research Paper/Project J320: Gender, Media, and Diversity Final Paper Due: On Canvas in doc or pdf —Friday, June 1st by 11:59 PM Final Project Due: On a USB drive—Friday, June 1st in discussion section (accompanying paper must be uploaded to Canvas by Friday, June 1st at 11:59 PM) Pick a media-related topic that you will research and analyze in relation to one or more of the concepts and contexts we have learned about this term. The topic you choose could grow out of current or historical events, a news story, or a particular media text you would like to analyze and discuss in depth—as long as you are researching a topic pertaining to media. You should construct your argument using one or more of the concepts you learned in the first half of the course and it should address one or more of the kinds of contexts we discuss in the second half. If you are uncertain about your topic or are not sure if/how it fits within these areas, please feel free to talk to us. We are here to help with exactly these kinds of questions! Concepts • Social Construction • Ideology/Hegemony • Representation • Semiotic analysis/Textual analysis • The gaze • Queer readings • Oppositional gaze • Stereotype analysis • Intersectionality Contexts • Gender • Race • Class • Sexuality • Ability • Age • Nationality • Ethnicity Research: You are expected to use a minimum of 6 outside sources when researching and writing your paper or project. At least three of these sources must be scholarly publications. This means they are academic books or book chapters (written by a professor and published by a university press or academic press) or articles published in scholarly (i.e. peer reviewed) journals. Please note: You may use class readings to support your arguments, but they do not count towards the required number of sources In addition to obtaining books through the library, you can also search for sources through the library’s online databases and journals. For tips on narrowing your topic and locating and evaluating sources, see: http://researchguides.uoregon.edu/getting-started. Remember, Wikipedia is not a valid source in and of itself. However, it often serves as a useful place to start when gathering information as it frequently links to other books and articles on the topic. 2 Paper Option Research and write a 6-7 page paper that examines and makes an argument about a media- related topic of your choice. Your paper must engage with at least one area from each of the columns above. Your paper must include: • A clever (or at the very least, descriptive) title • A clearly articulated thesis statement • An introduction that lays out your thesis and outlines major arguments • An organized body in which you use your research to analyze your media text, shed light on your topic, and back up your thesis • In-text citations, endnotes, or footnotes using standard MLA or Chicago st.

1. 1
Final Research Paper/Project
J320: Gender, Media, and Diversity
Final Paper Due: On Canvas in doc or pdf —Friday, June 1st by
11:59 PM
Final Project Due: On a USB drive—Friday, June 1st in
discussion section (accompanying
paper must be uploaded to Canvas by Friday, June 1st at 11:59
PM)
Pick a media-related topic that you will research and analyze in
relation to one or more of the
concepts and contexts we have learned about this term. The
topic you choose could grow out of
current or historical events, a news story, or a particular media
text you would like to analyze
and discuss in depth—as long as you are researching a topic
pertaining to media. You should
construct your argument using one or more of the concepts you
learned in the first half of the
course and it should address one or more of the kinds of
contexts we discuss in the second half.
If you are uncertain about your topic or are not sure if/how it
fits within these areas, please feel
free to talk to us. We are here to help with exactly these kinds
of questions!
Concepts
• Social Construction
• Ideology/Hegemony

2. • Representation
• Semiotic analysis/Textual analysis
• The gaze
• Queer readings
• Oppositional gaze
• Stereotype analysis
• Intersectionality
Contexts
• Gender
• Race
• Class
• Sexuality
• Ability
• Age
• Nationality
• Ethnicity
Research:
You are expected to use a minimum of 6 outside sources when
researching and writing your
paper or project. At least three of these sources must be
scholarly publications. This means
they are academic books or book chapters (written by a
professor and published by a university
press or academic press) or articles published in scholarly (i.e.
peer reviewed) journals.
Please note: You may use class readings to support your
arguments, but they do not count
towards the required number of sources
In addition to obtaining books through the library, you can also

3. search for sources through the
library’s online databases and journals. For tips on narrowing
your topic and locating and
evaluating sources, see:
http://researchguides.uoregon.edu/getting-started.
Remember, Wikipedia is not a valid source in and of itself.
However, it often serves as a
useful place to start when gathering information as it frequently
links to other books and articles
on the topic.
2
Paper Option
Research and write a 6-7 page paper that examines and makes
an argument about a media-
related topic of your choice. Your paper must engage with at
least one area from each of the
columns above.
Your paper must include:
• A clever (or at the very least, descriptive) title
• A clearly articulated thesis statement
• An introduction that lays out your thesis and outlines major
arguments
• An organized body in which you use your research to analyze
your media text, shed light

4. on your topic, and back up your thesis
• In-text citations, endnotes, or footnotes using standard MLA
or Chicago style
• A brief conclusion that reiterates and wraps up your thesis and
major arguments
• A bibliography that includes at least 6 outside sources, 3 of
which must be scholarly
Format:
• 6-7 pages long (not including footnotes/endnotes and your
bibliography).
Remember: 6 pages means that your writing covers the entire
6th page.
• Uses Times New Roman, 12-point font.
• Text should be double-spaced
• Use 1-inch margins
Papers will be evaluated based on the depth and proficiency of
your research, your ability to
synthesize that research into a convincing argument, and on the
quality of your essay
organization and writing. Be sure to give yourself extra time to
proofread and revise in order to
submit a well-organized, error-free paper. See the assignment
rubric for more details.
Project Option
You will create a 4-6 minute video essay and submit an
accompanying 2-3-page statement
establishing the scope of your research, summarizing the
project, discussing your use of primary
and secondary sources and explaining how you used the video

5. format to make your arguments.
Like the paper, your video must present your argument using
one or more of the concepts you
learned in the first half of the course and it should address one
or more of the kinds of contexts
we discuss in the second half. DO NOT select the video essay
option unless you are
comfortable with the format and have access to and an
understanding of the technology.
We do not provide technical support.
Your video essay must include:
• A clever (or at the very least, descriptive) title
• A clearly articulated thesis statement
• Visual evidence to support your thesis (images, video, etc.)
• Sound and/or narration and descriptive text
• An accompanying written statement (2-3 pages)
• A bibliography that includes at least 6 sources, 3 of which
must be scholarly sources
3
Format:
Please turn in your video via USB drive or dropbox link during
discussion section on March 9th
so your GE can verify that they are able to load and play the
file. Your accompanying written
statement and bibliography should follow the same formatting
guidelines as the longer paper (see
above) and must also be submitted on Canvas by the due date,
March 9th at 11:59 PM
Some examples of video essays:

6. http://mediacommons.futureofthebook.org/intransition/
http://www.filmmattersmagazine.com/category/videographic/
http://filmstudiesforfree.blogspot.com/2017/03/videographic-
screen-media-criticism-by.html
http://filmstudiesforfree.blogspot.com/search/label/Video%20Es
says
https://feministfrequency.com/series/tropes-vs-women-in-video-
games/
Academic Integrity
Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Plagiarism consists of using
other people’s words and ideas and
presenting them as one’s own, whether the material is taken
from a book, a friend, or the Internet.
Other violations of academic integrity include cheating,
resubmitting assignments for more than
one class without the permission of the professor, and
furnishing false information to a university
official. Please consult the University Student Conduct Code to
acquaint yourself with the
university’s definition of and policies regarding plagiarism. If
there is any question about
whether an act constitutes academic misconduct, it is the
students’ obligation to clarify the
question with me first. Plagiarism or cheating will result in an
automatic failing grade on this
assignment and will be reported to the University. Ignorance of
the standards and policies of
academic integrity is not an acceptable excuse.

7. For more information on policies relating to academic integrity,
see:
• https://dos.uoregon.edu/academic-misconduct
• https://researchguides.uoregon.edu/citing-plagiarism
1
J320 R
esearch P
aper R
ubric
C
riteria
U
nsatisfactory - B
eginning
D
eveloping
A
ccom
plished
E
xem

8. plary
Total
P
aper Focus:
P
urpose/
Thesis
S
tatem
ent
0-13 points
14-15 points
16-17 points
18-20 points
/20
Fails to identify a relevant
research topicor is not clearly
defined and/or the paper lacks
focus throughout. D
oes not
engage w
ith at least one of each
of the areas(concept and
context) listed on the prom

9. pt.
Identifies a research topicbut m
ay
be too broad in scope and/or the
thesis is som
ew
hat unclear and
needs to be developed further.
Focal pointis not consistently
m
aintained throughout the paper.
Engages m
inim
ally or w
ith only one
of the tw
o areas(concept and
context listed in the prom
pt.
Identifies a relevant research
topicand a thesis that provides
adequate direction for the paper
w
ith som
e degree of interest for
the reader. The thesis states the

10. position, prem
ise, or hypothesis,
and is the focalpointof the paper
for the m
ost part. A
dequately
engages w
ith one of each of the
required contexts/concepts listed
in the prom
pt.
Identifies a relevant research
topicand a thesis that provides
direction for the paper that is
engaging and thought provoking.
The thesis clearly and concisely
states the position, prem
ise, or
hypothesis and is consistently the
focalpointthroughout the paper.
Excels in engaging w
ith the
required concept and context
areaslisted in the prom
pt.
A

11. nalysis
0-20 points
21-23 points
24-26 points
27-30 points
/30
D
em
onstrates a lack of
understanding and inadequate
analysis of the research topicand
thesis. A
nalysis is superficial
based on opinions and
preferences rather than critical
analysis.
D
em
onstrates general
understanding w
ith lim
ited critical
analysis of the research topicand
thesis (argum

12. ent). M
ay sum
m
arize
perspectives, counter-argum
ents,
or opposing position, but broader
connections and/or im
plications are
not as thoroughly explored.
D
em
onstrates a solid
understanding and critical
analysis of the research topicand
thesis (argum
ent). M
ay w
eave
different perspectives, counter-
argum
ents, or opposing positions
into analysis and argum
ents.
D

13. em
onstrates a sophisticated
understanding and careful,
critical analysis of the research
topicand thesis (argum
ent).
N
uanced engagem
ent w
ith
different perspectives, considers
counter argum
ents or opposing
positions, and draw
s original and
thoughtful conclusions.
E
vidence
(S
ources)
0-20 points
21-23 points
24-26 points
27-30 points

14. /30
Lacks sufficient research sources
to support the central position
and/or, if included, are not the
correct num
ber/kind of source
required. Contains num
erous
factual m
istakes, om
issions, or
oversim
plifications. Sources, if
included, are not properly
referenced and cited in the
paper.
Provides som
e evidence to support
the central position but does not
use the correct num
ber/kind of
required sources. Som
e sources
m
ay not be relevant, accurate, and
reliable and/or appropriately

15. referenced and cited in the paper.
Provides essential, accurate
evidence to support the central
position w
ith the required
num
ber and kind of research
sources. Sources are referenced
and cited appropriately
throughout the paper for the
m
ost part.
Provides com
pelling and accurate
evidence to support in-depth the
central position w
ith at least the
required num
ber and kind of
research sources. Research
sources are highly relevant,
accurate, and reliable and add to
the strength of the paper; and
are effectively referenced and
cited throughout the paper.
O
rganization

16. 0-6 points
7 points
8 points
9-10 points
/10
Paper lackslogical organization
and im
pedes readers’
com
prehension of ideas; and/or
the paper is m
issing m
ultiple
required com
ponents.
Paper is som
ew
hat organized,
although occasionally ideasm
ay not
flow
w
ell from

17. paragraph to
paragraph, connect to a central
position, or be clear as a w
hole.
Paper is w
ell organized; ideasare
arranged reasonably w
ith a
progression of thought from
paragraph to paragraph
connecting to a central position.
Excellent organization that
contributes to the im
pact of the
paper in a noticeablew
ay; ideas
are arranged logically and flow
sm
oothly, w
ith a strong
progression of thought from

18. paragraph to paragraph
connecting to a central position.
2
W
riting
Q
uality &
A
dherence to
Form
at
G
uidelines
0-6 points
7 points
8 points
9-10 points
/10
Paper show
s a below

19. average/poor w
riting style lacking
in elem
ents of appropriate
standard English and follow
ing
proper style guidelines. Frequent
errors in spelling, gram
m
ar,
punctuation, spelling, usage,
and/or form
atting.
Paper show
s an average and/or
casual w
riting style using standard
English and follow
ing style
guidelines. Som
e errors in spelling,
gram
m

20. ar, punctuation, usage,
and/or form
atting.
Paper show
s good w
riting style
and clarity in w
riting, using
standard English and follow
ing
style guidelines. M
inor errors in
gram
m
ar, punctuation, spelling,
usage, and/or form
atting.
Paper is extrem
ely w
ell w
ritten
and clear. Show
s excellent grasp
of standard English and follow

21. s
style guidelines. Basically free
from
gram
m
ar, punctuation,
spelling, usage, or form
atting
errors.
TO
TA
L P
O
IN
TS
(sum
of 6 C
riteria)
/100